From the Pastor’s Desk
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Nov 26, 2023
“The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal…”
-Ezekiel 34:16
Brothers and Sisters,
“AAUGH!” The sequence unfolds predictably. Lucy, ever optimistic, offers a plausible reason why this time will be different. Charlie Brown, filled with anticipation, begins to run, envisioning finally and successfully kicking the football. Alas, he is met with disappointment once again, landing on his back and vocalizing his frustration with a resounding “AAUGH!” Amidst the iconic Thanksgiving imagery of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce, the recurring theme of Charlie Brown’s thwarted attempts encapsulates the essence of the holiday for me.
As we approach the culmination of our liturgical year, celebrating the reign of our true King, we are reminded of God’s enduring promise. God claims us as His own, pledging to care for us as a shepherd tends to his flock. Acutely aware of our struggles, sufferings, injuries, and illnesses, God actively shepherds us, as emphasized by the prophet Ezekiel. However, we may overlook the crucial question: “How?”
God’s ways are vast, encompassing various interventions in our lives. Chief among them is Jesus entering our world, fully embracing our humanity—a profound act. Equally significant is our collective calling to embody the Body of Christ. Continuing Jesus’ ministry, we are to imitate the Shepherd by providing for the hungry, quenching the thirst of the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the imprisoned.
Our parish community is a cause for celebration, with countless hours devoted to the Lord through ministries like OLPH St. Vincent and SALT Ministries and community partnerships to advance charitable works. If you haven’t had a chance to serve our brothers and sisters living in Baltimore City, consider signing up for SALT(olphparish.org/salt), and while you’re there, grab all the details on how to participate in their Boxes from Baltimore program this holiday. For service ideas, including serving for one hour on Dec 10 to help sort the gifts received from our Advent Giving Tree, visit olphparish.org/our-parish-life/how-can-i-serve.
As we move out of Ordinary Time, let’s persist in transforming moments of distress and frustration, similar to Charlie Brown’s struggles but more serious, into reminders of humanity’s goodness and our caring God’s unwavering faithfulness. Although brief, Advent calls us to reflect on the enduring Light of the World as our days grow darker. To make the most of this special time, we have organized all our Advent parish offerings on one landing page https://olphparish.org/advent/. Please visit it often, and I pray that we radiate the light of Christ by endeavoring to live like him!